Newsprints

Blue is an orphan who disguises herself as a newsboy. There's a war going on, and girls are expected to help the struggling economy by selling cookies. But Blue loves living and working at the Bugle, the only paper in town that tells the truth. And what's printed in the newspapers now matters more than ever. But Blue struggles with her secret, and worries that if her friends and adopted family at the Bugle find out that she's a girl, she'll lose everything and everyone she cares about. And when she meets and befriends Crow, a boy who is also not what he seems, together they seek the freedom to be their true selves, and to save each other

Little "girl" Blue, who has to dress as a boy, works for the Bugle by running around to sell newspapers. She thoroughly believes in the importance of her job, and knows that she is just as capable of doing it as any boy. The rest of the world isn't as sure, but wartime opens doors for women... While working, Blue and her canary companion Goldie befriend several others who have reason to hide who they are. Jack is an inventor with connections to the capital, and the bird-loving Crow prefers to avoid adults. Newsprints takes inspiration from several different sources; the setting is a mixture of the 30's and 40's war era and steampunk, individual characters are based on nursery rhymes, and the issues that are of concern are modern ones such as gender equality and the veracity of the news. The art balances the serious and the fun aspects of this story and its tone rather nicely. Of special note is the lighting, which is very impressionistic, often sporting hues seen at dawn or dusk. By contrast, is Blue, whose light blue hat and slacks draw the attention of our eyes. The plot moves at a swift pace (although, sometimes a little too swiftly), and the excitement it builds is only aided by the frequent use of different dramatic perspectives. Overall, Xu has created an entertaining and meaningful story with a wonderful cast of characters. Many threads are left hanging though, so kids and adults alike will eagerly await the sequel.